Have you ever thought about such a thing as how long your neck is? Have you ever measured it? We are sure you would not be able to compete with the women of the Padaung tribe…

The women from the Padaung tribe (Yan Pa Doung) are known as women with long necks or as giraffe women. Padaung is the group whose women wear ornaments known as neck rings, brass coils that are placed around the neck. These coils make the women look like a dragon, which is an important figure in Kayan folklore. The coils protect them from tiger bites, more symbolically than literally.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s many people from this tribe escaped to the Thai border area, because of the military regime in Birma. They live there with an uncertain legal status.

There is a belief that if a woman does not wear a brass neck coil she can love more than one man, if she has one on, she can love only one. There is a legend that if a woman is unfaithful, a brass coil is taken off and her neck is broken. However, it is only a legend. They take the neck rings off once every two – five years not as a punishment though, but in order to add another part to their brass coils so that their necks get longer. They do not take them off neither during the night nor while taking a bath. They start wearing them when they turn around five years old and are dressed in them until the end of their lives. It is the parents who decide whether to put the rings on their daughters’ necks or not. It is said that women wearing the neck rings are more attractive for men. The first ring weighs around 1kg. As a result, their weight may be around 10 kg!

Ironically, the women from the Padaung tribe are not the necks but the heads of the families. They cook, do the housework, earn money and take children to school.

People believe that their necks are lengthened. However, it is only an illusion as the stretched neck is created by the deformation of the clavicle. A Padaung woman of marriageable age will probably have had her neck extended by about 25 centimeters.

Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Puripunn Baby Grand boutique hotel is an intimate small luxury property with a total of 30 rooms designed in a contemporary Lanna- Oriental architectural style inspired by traditional homes found in Chiang Mai during colonial period. The hotel is located in the midst of one of Chiang Mai’s centuries-old communities where ancient Lanna treasures, cultural traditions and lifestyle have been well-preserved. Hotel Puripunn Baby Grand will literally share the town with you as the word ‘Puri’ comes from the word ‘buri’ which means town, and ‘punn’ means to share. The style and character of Puripunn Baby Grand Boutique Hotel echoes its historic neighborhood. Puripunn is located in what is now a heritage zone that is home to the city’s greatest concentration of traditional wooden buildings. Punna Café offers a selection of fine cuisine featuring Thai and Northern Thai dishes. For relax and fitness, the hotel boasts a gym, a fitness area with Thai Massage and aromatherapy, a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. All rooms have complimentary access to wireless high speed internet.

Location:

Puripunn Baby Grand boutique hotel is located in a quiet area known to Chiang Mai people by the name of the local temple, Wat Gade, located on the east bank of Chiang Mai’s Ping River. The city centre is about 5 minutes and the Chiang Mai airport is about 25 minutes. The Puripunn boutique hotel is just a few minutes walk from many of Chiang Mai’s landmarks: the Wat Kate (only 900 meters away), the White Pagoda (1.5 km) and the three king monument (2.5 km). Top local tourist attractions and entertainment including the revered Night Bazaar, the Ping River’s shop houses, and Warorot Market and the flower market are just a few minutes walk from the Hotel. Many night pubs, restaurants, and sightseeing attractions lie within a few minutes’ stroll of Puripunn. – View Location Map.

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Epoque Hotels is a collection of over 350 avant-garde, trendy-chic and luxury-classic boutique hotels in over 100 destinations worldwide. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Miami, Florida the company also has sales offices in Italy, The United Kingdom, Spain and China. For reservations or more information visit Epoque Hotels or call (305) 538-9697 or (866) 376-7831.